The Falcons opened favored by less than a touchdown, but it’s no surprise the spread has widened given the show they put on during Thursday Night Football and how the Panthers’ defense looked against Chicago. Add to that the fact linebacker Shaq Thompson is out for the year and Carolina looks like a dream matchup for Kirk Cousins and Atlanta.
Cousins, who just set the franchise record for single-game passing yards with 509, is among the league’s best when he has a clean pocket. Only Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen have a better EPA, and the 36-year-old has 975 yards, eight touchdowns and no picks when pressure-free. Under duress, he’s a liability. On pressured dropbacks, Cousins has thrown five picks and his QB rating plummets to 42.8. The problem for Carolina is that they can’t exert any pressure. They’re 23rd in the league there. That ranking falls to 28th when they blitz and they are demonstrably worse than that when Thompson isn’t on the field.
This is precisely the type of defense that allows Cousins to thrive, which keeps the Falcons’ anemic running game from being too exposed.
The good thing for Andy Dalton and his offense is Atlanta’s pass rush won’t be bothering him much either. The Falcons are dead last in both sacks and pressure applied, despite blitzing the fourth most in the league. Dalton should have no trouble moving the ball between the 20s with Diontae Johnson and his other young wideouts, especially with Chuba Hubbard facing a soft run defense.
But the Falcons defense tightens things up in the red zone, allowing just nine TDs in 73 incursions. The Panthers are among the worst at finishing drives, with just six touchdowns in 36 trips inside the opponent’s 20. If the over hits, expect Atlanta to do most of the lifting.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for NFL tickets? Find them here.
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Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers odds
How to watch Falcons at Panthers
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte
- Time: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
Expert picks for Falcons at Panthers
Read more about NFL Week 6
Odds, expert picks, previews: Drake Maye in, Saleh out and Lamar Jackson vs. Jayden Daniels headline a wild week
Playoff projections: The Athletic’s model predicts the field
Best bets: Commanders cover train keeps rolling
(Photo of Darnell Mooney: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
